Calculator Offer

[DigiTan]

Okay. I've probably mentioned this sometime before, but I've been in the market for a newer calc model for quite sometime now. I don't have a credit card, and I hate going through the trouble of doing Ebay auctions. I've been checking the campus kiosks for nearly a year now for calcs for sale--but came up with nothing. Well, just a few moments ago I found a kiosk that announced two calculators for sale. Here are the offers:

TI-86
- Perfect working condition
- Manual, link and cover included
- Cost: $65

TI-83
- Perfect working condition
- Cover included
- Cost: $35

The problem: I can't make a decision! Money is a bit short nowadays, so I'm reluctant to spend $5--let alone 35 or 65. On the other hand, I'm beginning to take more advanced math/engineering classes now, and I've begun to realize my current TI-82 isn't cutting it. (I never thought I'd say that about a graphing calc! ) The offer won't stand for very long. What should I do?!?

[sgm]

Well for one thing, the TI-83 is just a marginally enhanced TI-82, and the TI-86 offers much more in the way of higher mathematics. So I'd get the TI-86.

Here is some more info:
http://www.rskey.org/buyguide.pdf
http://tifaq.web1000.com/?p3.htm#5.

[Jeremiah Walgren]

The 86 has more math/calculus features and will last longer if you plan to go that far in math or something.

[b__]

I voted Ralph Nader because i don't really know many people who have 86's, so my vote doesn't really count.

[Justin W.]

I personally own an 83+ but would like to own a 89.

[Ray Kremer]

Well, it's the old conundrum.

By technical standards, of course the 86 is more powerful than anything from the 83 series.

However technical standards isn't the best way to choose a tool. A military rifle is better than a shotgun, but I wouldn't use the rifle to go deer hunting.

Too many students in your average high school algebra class only have experience with four function calculators and wouldn't be able to get any benefit out of the manual to save their life. Therefore they depend on button-by-button instructions from the teacher, who almost always is using something from the 83 series, and thus the student must also or else the buttons and menus don't match.

Now, to the specific case of DigiTan. If your 82 isn't cutting it, the 83 doesn't have all that much that the 82 didn't and thus probably isn't the step up that you're looking for. Since we're talking advanced math and engineering I would assume that you are fairly competent with math and calculators and would be able to make the most out of an 86. It's still at its root a scientific calculator with a graph function, just like the 82 and 83, but it is definately more well rounded in the calculus area, and stuff like unit conversions and the various solvers are really nifty.

Of course these days most people doing what you're doing go right to the 89 or Voyage 200, because the CAS turns a lot of stuff into child's play, but you'd be hard pressed to find even a used 89 for $65 I think.

[DarkerLine]

Can you get an 83+?
Edit: the apps are worth it since you can get stuff like Symbolic, Omnicalc, Graph^3, etc. that make it as good as the 89. Also, most advanced math teachers don't let you use an 89 on tests anyway.

[DigiTan]

Whoa! It's Ray Kremer! Talk about a celebrity appearance! (Can I have your autograph, man? )

Ahem. Where was I? Oh, I've been weighing both offers for the past day now, and after hearing the advice, and checking out the Calc comparison chart (thanks for the link, sigma!) I decided that the TI-86 is the best route.

And you've got a point about the "lifespan" thing, Jeremiah. I had not realized how similar the TI-82 and TI-83 are when it comes to functions.


Okay, here's one last question. Another tough one. Should I go ahead an buy the TI-86 now, or wait to buy a TI-89/v200 in 2 or 3 months?

[Jedd]

Dude I would go with the 83+ (if you can find one). That's what just about everyone has, so if you are planning on making games, that's the best way for your games to be on the most possible calcs.

But if you are getting this for school and *math* (apparently these calculator things can do more than just play games) then I would go with the 86.

[Toksyuryel]

If you opt for the 83+ route, go Silver. It really is worth it.

[Jedd]

I completely disagree. If I had a silver, all my games would suck, because I wouldnt worry about speed and everyone who played them on the 83+ would think it was way too slow.

[Darth Android]

i could fix that. i could write an interrupt that sets the calc in slow mode until youi disable it...that would fix your problem

wish i had gotten a 83+se when i had the chance. at least now i can opt for a 84+se (or whatever it is)

[Toksyuryel]

An interupt isn't neccessary: just use ZRUN. Works just as well.

[Ray Kremer]

[DarkerLine]

For math, the 89 is better. However, there might be/are programs for the other calculators that make it possible to do more advanced math. There are way more programs for the 83+*, so you might want to get that instead of the 86.

*Google returns 329 000 results for the 83+, but only 44 800 for the 86.

[sgm]

Of course, those programs for the TI-83 do what the TI-86 can do naturally.

[The following was not written by me]
yes, and some things can be done better. with Graph[superscript]3[/superscript] you can rotate 3d graphs FASTER than the built in one on the 89. get a 83+(se) or 84+(se)(?) you will get more money's worth out of it i think

[Bluefire]

who is Ray Kremer? i have no clue what u r talking about digitan, did i miss something?

[Toksyuryel]

[DigiTan]

[Adm.Wiggin]

link to these files? they sound AMAZING!!!!